J903N Caring for Kiriwina Project
Papua New Guinea, Oceania
In partnership with Caring for Kiriwina
The Situation
J903N Caring for Kiriwina seeks support to improve the quality of maternity care services which will save lives of women and babies on the Papua New Guinea Island of Kiriwina.
The Objectives
- Provide a one week training program on Kiriwina in basic and emergency skills in maternal and new born health.
- Currently there are approximately 100 Village Health Volunteers scattered around the Island of Kiriwina. Of those, less than 5 have ever received any training in health care services for women and their new born that focuses on pregnancy, birth and the immediate postnatal period. Most of the Village Health Volunteers rely on handed down knowledge and first-hand job experience. Two Australian registered midwife educators will travel to the island of Kiriwina to facilitate an education program at one of the main villages. The program will incorporate guidelines from the World Health Organisation Safe Childbirth Initiative, and we anticipate that between 50 and 75 Village Health Volunteers will be able to attend the five-day course. The two trainers will be accompanied by two Australian support staff to assist with monitoring the program and liaison with the local Caring for Kiriwina representatives. The midwife educators and the Caring for Kiriwina support staff are providing their services on a volunteer basis.
J903N